Mimar,

I am rethinking seriously about the 26" wheeled luggage, I could not even lift it up the steps onto the train. 21" or 22" is what I will be shopping for. I just realized that these can be carry ons, that is a very attractive alternative, as the airlines lost our luggages when we arrived in Amsterdam this past month. That reminds me that I need to contact KLM to get some of my shopping money back.

I also found out that May is the month for constructions in Zermatt, as that is the only month a truck can enter the city. So... Maybe I will move the trip to the first two weeks of June. I think the high season officially starts on June 21.

I am supposed to go to the southern part of China for some volunteer work for the month of July, so I want to be back and rest for a couple of weeks before leaving again. Who said retirement life is easy?

Pat

Pat, I've been retired all my life, it's never easy! LOL. I remember giving Budman advice for his Swiss trip in May. He had a lot of rain. I've been three times in June and had perfect weather. We were in the valley one over from Zermatt, the Val D'Anniviers, from June 17-23 and it was perfect. 70's and sunshine. You won't find swarms of tourists at that time, mostly Americans and Japanese; the European kids are still in school. You'll see older Brits, too. The buses are great. You can visit lots of the charming towns and villages via buses. With the pass, you just flash it and ride as you please. We absolutely loved that option. Of course, we also got lost a few times, but a trip back was always free. You'll love the casual feel of Switzerland. Everyone dresses in hiking/traveling clothes and you see ALL ages with backpacks. The only place I saw stupid shoes and designer duds was in Lugano.

HI Pat---setting your trip back a couple of weeks is a good idea. Last night I realized I should tell you that May is pretty early for Zermatt---there would still be lots of snow on the upper areas. As for the construction--well, that is going on all the time. We found lots of construction trucks zipping around in early July. They were the little electric ones, but still. Maybe it's full-size ones they allow in May? I don't know.

I checked the location of Haus de la Vallee. There is a map that shows it, and the orientation of Winkelmatten in relation to the main part of Zermatt, here:

http://tinyurl.com/3yd6bc

Our apartment was further out (more to the right in the map), across the river. No. 1219 on the map. Haus de la Vallee is closer in, but still a good walk from the center. We liked that---enjoyed the walk in and back each day, and the neighborhood is nice. I believe there is a minimart nearby, but for main groceries you would need to go back to the station area. There is a little bus; I can't remember the cost because we never used it.

It is very close to the Klein Matterhorn lift complex, so if you go up there instead of the Gornergrat it is quite convenient.

Ok, I THINK this is what I want to do, leaving Calif on May 31, buy the 15 day Swiss pass:

3 nights Zürich
5 nights Lauterbrunnen
3 nights Zermatt
3 nights Lausanne
1 night Geneva Airport hotel

Questions:
Should I trim a day from Lauterbrunnen and add a couple of days in Lugano or somewhere around there?

How should I arrange the trip to make the most of the train? Where do I go first after Zürich?

I am afraid (petrified is more like it) of height, am I going to freak out with the gondola rides? I don't think I can handle the chair lifts, but gondolas... maybe. I was fine on the London Eye.

Pat

Pat--I think you have them in just the right order.

Just to confuse things, you might consider a 3-day Flex Pass ($156 each if you are buying 2) instead of the 15-day pass ($286 each for 2 people). You really have only 3 major travel days: Zürich to Lauterbrunnen ,; Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt, and Zermatt to Lausanne. The last trip from Lausanne to Geneva is pretty inexpensive. The 3-day Flexpass gives you 1/2 off all your other tickets between the first and last day of use---this would cover any excursions, including the high mountain trips (on the dreaded cable cars) which are only 1/2 off even with a full 15-day pass. The $130 you would save with the 3-day pass would buy a lot of transport. You do give up something in convenience, but not much.

As for the cablecars, do not worry. They are large (the size of a small room) and stable. And they are Swiss! (Meaning very well-engineered and reliable).

Thanks Enzian, I will keep that in mind. It is too early to buy pass, I think I have to wait until March.

Something strange happened when I try to make hotel reservations. First, I tried to make a airport hotel reservation in Geneva and found out almost everything was booked for June 16. Finally got one for Holiday Inn in France, near the Geneva airport. Then I tried to book into a Marriott in Zürich, there are three there. One was unavailable for awards, one has to use ANYTIME award (50% more points), so I booked the only one that is available with standard award. Something must be happening in June there.

Pat

Pat---ordinarily I would say that it is just too early to book, they haven't put the rooms on the internet yet. But---next year (2008) there is a huge football (soccer) tournament going on in June in Switzerland (and Austria), from 7 June to 29 June. The games will be held in Geneva, Zurich, Basel and Berne. That is probably affecting the reservations online.

Enzian, that explains it!

Rick has fond memories of Vevey/Montreux area, so I started looking for something there instead of Lausanne. People seemed to prefer Vevey/Montreux over Lausanne on this board too.

I think Suze's friend recommended Négociants in Vevey, I liked what I saw on their web-site, so I booked a 3 night stay with them.

I am very careful with the cancellation policies of the lodges, in case there is a change.

Pat

Using Montreaux/Vevey as a based for the Lausanne area is an excellent idea ...

Hurray! Good move. I've nothing against Lausanne, only that it is so much larger. Vevey and Montreux are much easier to get around in and the quai along the lake thru both towns is lovely. And the train stations are right there, a short walk from the central area in both places. Lausanne a bit more of a hassle (getting from the train station to the lake, for example).

Thanks everyone, this phase of the planning is almost done. I am waiting for the two books that I ordered from Amazon to finish the more detailed planning.

"Swiss Bernese Oberland: A Travel Guide with Specific Trips to the Mountains, Lakes and Villages, Third Edition"
Philip Alspach, and "Rick Steves' Switzerland 2007".

Thanks again.

Pat

Pat....also look at the myswitzerland.com website. It has great info!